Deputies from the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office had to wear respirators to retrieve 30 animals — 26 alive and four dead — from an abandoned house in the 400 block of Ga. 17 today.

“The conditions were deplorable,” said sheriff’s spokesman David Ehsanipoor. “The smell was so bad deputies used respirators.”

The sheriff’s office received a call about the animals, which were left in a house that has been foreclosed, Ehsanipoor said. Deputies found a variety of animals at the house, including dogs, cats, birds, ferrets and reptiles. Three cats and a rabbit were found dead, he said.

The animals that were still alive did not have any food or water, he said. He estimated they had been left alone for two to three weeks.

Investigators are tracking down the person who last lived in the house and expect to issue 26 charges of cruelty to animals, 26 charges of abandoning animals and four counts of improper disposal of dead animals.

The animals that were saved were taken to the county animal shelter, where they will be treated and eventually may be put up for adoption, Ehsanipoor said.

Armored truck robbed on southside

The Federal Bureau of Investigations and Savannah-Chatham police are investigating the armed robbery of an armored truck early this morning.

Just after 7 a.m., two masked men armed with handguns approached the driver of the Loomis truck as he was preparing to make a drop at the ATM located at Stephenson Avenue and Abercorn Street. They demanded the cash bags that were on the truck, said Gena Bilbo, police spokeswoman.

The board of directors of Loomis has authorized the payment of up to $5,000 to persons who provide information to the FBI that results in the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators of the robbery of the Loomis crew at a Wells Fargo ATM at 6999 Abercorn St.

The suspects successfully got away with an undisclosed amount of cash and ran toward the La Quinta Inn. The suspects were wearing hooded sweatshirts, jeans and gloves, with their faces totally covered.

Law enforcement is unsure of the races of the suspects. They are described as being between 5 feet 9 inches to 5 feet 11 inches and having average builds.

Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 912-234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637). In the body type, include “CStop2020” plus the tip. Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.

The FBI took the lead in the investigation, Bilbo said.

Savannah’s Heritage Bank robbed

Special Agent in Charge Mark F. Giuliano of the FBI’s Atlanta Field Office is asking the public to help identify and locate an armed bank robber responsible for an armed robbery of the Heritage Bank at 620 Stephenson Ave. Tuesday morning.

About 11 a.m., a man entered the Heritage Bank and announced a robbery while displaying a large-framed semi-automatic handgun. After obtaining an undisclosed amount of money, the robber departed the bank without further incident.

The robber is described as being a black male, early 20s in age, approximately 5 feet 7 inches in height, wearing a grey hoodie, a white bandana and black aviator-type sunglasses. He was also reportedly wearing black gloves.

Anyone with information on this individual or robbery should contact the Savannah Resident Agency of the FBI at 912-232-3716 or Savannah CrimeStoppers at 912-234-2020.

4 arrested in inmate escape

Four individuals have been arrested in connection with the Nov. 10 escape of Cecil “Red” Nelson from the Emanuel County Detention Center, FBI Special Agent in Charge Mark F. Giuliano said Tuesday.

Arrested were Charles Pretlow, 47, charged with conspiracy to harbor, harboring a fugitive; Ida Clark, 57, charged with conspiracy to harbor, harboring a fugitive; Ashley N. Lewis, 49, charged with conspiracy to harbor, harboring a fugitive, and lying to a federal officer; and Joshua R. Saturday, 49, charged with conspiracy to harbor, harboring a fugitive, and lying to a federal officer. All four are residents of Pembroke.

Nelson, 33, escaped the Emanuel County jail in Swainsboro on the night of Nov. 10 along with five other inmates. Nelson had pleaded guilty on Aug. 16 to one count of conspiracy to kidnap. Together with Gary McDonald (pleaded guilty on July 26) and Antonio Lamont Murray (convicted on Aug. 22), Nelson committed two separate kidnappings in Bryan County in December 2011 and January 2012 in which both victims were forcibly abducted at gunpoint and later released after ransoms were paid.

On Nov. 12 Nelson was taken into custody without incident at his mother’s home in Pembroke with the assistance of the Pembroke Police Department, Bryan County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Marshal’s Service, and the Emanuel County Sheriff’s Office.

Pretlow, Clark, Lewis and Saturday were all arrested in Pembroke.

Compiled by G.G. Rigsby

and Corey Dickstein

ON THE WEB: TO SEE PICTURES AND DETAILS FOR INDIVIDUALS SERVING THEIR INITIAL INCARCERATION IN CHATHAM COUNTY, AS REPORTED BY THE CHATHAM COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, GO TO CHATHAMCOUNTYBOOKED.COM.